Update on Kent

Kent was officially released from the hospital. He was admitted last Wednesday morning for internal bleeding.They stayed in the hospital six days for blood transfusions--due to massive blood loss (1/3 of his body's supply)--following the diagnosis of having several Divertics and a torn-up stomach. After a strict liquid diet, 2 colonoscopies, and finally being able to tolerate solid food, Kent was released Monday afternoon. Since then, Kent and Lila have been staying with Kent's mother in San Diego while he recuperates. Kent and Lila have been back to the BI twice during the day to catch-up on things, teach, and visit with the students. Kent is still a bit weak, but is definitely healing up and regaining his energy and color--Praise the Lord!

We are so blessed with an efficient, dependable leadership team at the BI:  Juan, Marbella, Ester, and Martin have all taken charge while Kent and Lila have been absent--they have made sure things run smoothly.
Also, many of the students expressed their concern for Kent with prayer during morning Devotional, asking Lynda, Marbella, and Ester for updates, and even requesting Lynda's phone to call Kent and Lila to personally check up on them.

Thank you so very much for your prayers! We serve a faithful God!

Thanksgiving pics!

 

From babies to young adults, everyone came to join in on the Thanksgiving day fun!

(Elda, baby Abril)

 

 ...crowding around to play games like dominoes...

(Keila, Lila, Silbano, Beto, & Gloria)

 ...puzzles...

(Sirvando, Enoc, Daniela, and Mari-Chuy's son)

 

...chess...
(Elias, Hernan, Hugo, & Lidia)

 

...everyone had a lot of fun being together...
(Leti, Gloria)

  

 Even Kim--Lila and Kent's daughter--came down to join the fun!

Games...

(Mari-Chuy, David, Daniela)

 

...games...

(Estabon, Lola, Lore, and Danielita)

 ...and more games!

(Enoc and Keila)

 Being together was what made it fun!

(Aqui, Elda, and Jocabed)

 

(Rebeka, Sirvando, Ami, Luz, Marbe, Danielita)

 

(Ester)

 

Many were camera shy...

(Keila, Juanita, Lila)

   

 ...but we got a few precious shots.

(Marbella, David)

 Our new commercial stove/oven!

 Many insisted on helping out in the kitchen.

(Lila, Lynda, Elda)

 (Kent, Marbella)

 (Leti)

 And the games continued up until the meal...

 (Marbe, Luci, Aqui, Abigail)

 tug-o-war, even!

(Lola, Hector, Aqui, Efrain, and Alex)

 

What a cutie!

(David)

Keila got the bigger half!

(Lynda, Keila)

Learning How to be Blind

It's official, as far as the doctors are concerned, that Rigo will be forever blind. We still trust that God has a plan, and trust Him in whatever that may be--blindness or sight.
Until something else occurs, Rigo has accepted his situation and is determined to take advantage of opportunities to continue to conquer life, serving Christ. To do this, as a blind man, he has started attending an Institute for the Blind in Tijuana that we were referred to by one of his ophthalmologists. Little did we know when we sent Rigo and Kent for an orientation, that it happens to be a Christian-run institute (we had previously assumed it would  be government-run). What a blessing for Rigo to be learning his new lifestyle in a Christian facility with an entire Christian staff.
But that's not all! The Institute provides daily devotionals, however, none of the men have been trained in that arena so in their words are just "doing what they can" to provide an encouraging devotional every day; Rigo has been a student of the BI for 3 years now and one of his trainings has, in fact, been bringing devotionals. This would be the perfect opportunity for him to bless others' lives with the tools he has been equipped with here. How cool is our God?

Please continue to pray for Rigo and his family, especially his wife whom is having difficulty accepting his new lifestyle. God knows what's best for them! Amen!

Thanksgiving

We enjoyed a fantastic Thanksgiving here at the BI this past Thursday:  Turkey and all!
Kent, Lila, and several students helped prepare a totally Traditional Thanksgiving meal of 4 turkeys, 4 pans of sweet potatoes, 3 green been casseroles, a giant fruit salad, a big bowl of stuffing, a big owl bowl of mash'o'taters, Chipotle gravy, and hot apple cider. Can you say "YUM"? The students here seemed to enjoy it, as well--a few asked for chili sauce, but can you blame them? They were only bottle-fed jalapeños! :o)

The students hung out and played games (janga, chess, ping-pong, dominoes, air hockey) up until the serving of the Thanksgiving meal. After the delicious meal, we took some time to have open-mic for anyone to come up and say what they're thankful to God for. Not many students went up, but the ones that did share moved the emotions of the room with both laughter and tears. The students were very helpful and considerate by cleaning up the kitchen.

For Thursday night service, after entering into worship for a few songs we showed the movie "Facing the Giants" rather than delivering a sermon--more sensible after a long day like Thanksgiving.
Following the movie, the congregation enjoyed Kent's Apple Cobbler with ice cream.

It was a day to be thankful for, as we are for every day God blesses us with.

a Tradgedy and a Blessing

Gloria lost her baby.
Her and her husband went from jovial to depressed in a matter of days as she was hospitalized to run several tests to make sure. She is on bed rest for at least 40 days--we don't exactly know why, since she only had an emergency D&C--so we are temporarily out of a cook. Luckily we are blessed with many serving hearts here at the BI, and have had several women step up and help in the kitchen. Please be praying with us for Gloria's physical, emotional, and spiritual health as she gets through this tough time.

We've been blessed with an inexpensive, gently used commercial oven! It's so beautiful in the kitchen and we can cook beans, and tortillas, and rice, and the main meal ALL AT ONCE with no problem! :-)
Also, we had a group of from Shadow Mountain Community Church in San Diego come down on Saturday and they cleaned and repainted our whole kitchen; so it looks even that much better!

Blessings!

APEN, Jesus, & pregnant!

APEN (Child Evangelism Fellowship in Spanish) Leadership here at the BI is busy prepping for the APEN conference being held in Tijuana tomorrow. At the conference, we'll will be transitioning to both the next lesson of the curriculum as well as Christmas curriculum--as it is fast approaching! The team will be presenting songs, skits, devotionals, and gifting and selling materials and curriculum. Should be a good time of fellowship and learning of new methods of evangelizing the little ones! After all, they are the most important to be reached!

Mark 9:37
"Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me doesn't welcome only me but also the One who sent me."

Also, this past week we had a former-student, Jesus, visit us here at the BI from his missionary-life where he has been reaching the unreached indigenous tribes in the dangerous mountains of Chihuahua, Mexico. He delivered an encouraging message to our current students at our Wednesday student service--it has been a joy and encouragement having him visit!

Also good news, one of our staff members, Gloria, is several weeks pregnant! This is a blessing and a miracle, for doctors had informed her there was no chance of her ever conceiving. She and her husband feel greatly blessed! Unfortunately, she is already having some minor complications, so is on bedrest until further testing and results. Please pray with us for a smooth pregnancy as well as a healthy baby (or babies, it seems might be the case, after an ultrasound)!

The Blind Shall See

Meet Rigoberto, his wife Beatriz, and their precious daughter, Beteli. They came with us from Oaxaca two years ago to complete their preparation for ministry in their home village of San Mateo del Mar. Rigoberto had suffered an accident as a young teen that left him blind in one eye. Since his arrival here, he has been losing sight in his other eye, and it had gotten to the point where he could barely see. The doctors said that it was beyond their expertise and would not attempt surgery.

Recently, an opportunity presented itself for treatment. A

group of specialists from around the world who are doing research and training at UCSD are donating time in Tijuana. They diagnosed his problem as a detached retina determined that he is a candidate for surgery. The Lord provided the funds for the highly reduced cost and he was operated on several weeks ago. Complications have left him blind. The doctors seem to have a ray of hope but are somewhat puzzled.

We believe that God is doing something but we are not sure what. Please pray fervently that God would heal Rigoberto!

On a fun note, the BI Talent Show is tonight--many of the students have been preparing their songs, skits, and dances for weeks! It should be a joyful, fun time for everyone!

Thank the Lord for New Staff

For some time now, we have been asking for help in several areas of ministry here at the institute. Be-cause of a lack of staff, and a growing ministry, Lila and I, and other valuable workers, have needed to fill the shoes of jobs that could easily be done by someone else.

In January, the Lord brought us Gloria, a former graduate, and her new husband Alberto. While he is finishing his studies, Gloria has taken on the full time responsibility of the kitchen, garden, and shop-ping. We praise the Lord

for this committed young couple.

In August, our niece, Lynda Davis, arrived. She felt God’s call to respond to the need for a daycare provider. Amid trying to adapt to a new culture and learn a new language, she has valiantly, taken on the full time responsibility of the school nursery.

Please pray for Lynda, Gloria, and Alberto, as the Lord blesses them with new experiences, challenges, and ways that he continues to mold and shape their lives and hearts as they serve Him.

*In the photo: Lynda, Gloria, and Lila fashioning their Hauve Hiupils for the Mexican Independence day on Sept 16.

A Heartbreaking Reality

The following testimony was shared with us by one of the APEN workers in the Aliados project, who worked in one of the major cities in Baja California.

Wednesday afternoon, while doing open air evangelism with the wordless book, I came upon a black car. The man inside had a hardened look on his face. Beside the car was a little girl about seven years old standing with her head down. Her face reflected fear, pain, and desperation.

I asked the man if I could talk to the girl, and with his permission I started to share the wordless book. With tears in her eyes, she listened intently.

Just as I was about to ask her if she wanted to receive Jesus as her savior, another car pulled up and a man, about thirty years old, got out and gave money to the man in the car. Another man got out, quickly came up to the little girl, took her by the hand, and began to lead her back to the car.

I didn’t know what to do. I looked into her face that was full of fear and hurt, gave her a big hug, and she hugged me back. I filled with anger but I could do nothing, and I said, “Pray now!” “Ask Jesus to help you and to come into your heart.” With that, the men took the little girl. Please pray that God will save Yahaira

Allied for a New Generation

This year the national APEN (Child Evangelism Fellowship) project was in Baja California (Lila is the director for APEN Baja California). The goal was to train as many teachers as possible to open as many Good News Clubs as possible to reach as many children as possible with the gospel.

Probably everything that you hear about the violence, drug trafficking etc. in Mexico is true. Children as young as 8 and 9 are commonly recruited as “burros” to move small quantities of narcotics. Mexico has recently passed the U.S. as the number one country in the world for producing and trafficking child pornography. Girls as young as seven are involved in prostitution in Tijuana. This is the world in which we live; a world full of children that desperately need to know that there is a God that loves them.

After years of anticipation and months of planning, promotion, and preparation, in April the project, “Allied for a New Generation” became a reality. Around 50 CEF workers from all over Mexico joined forces for two weeks. Over 350 teachers were trained, over 200 clubs were started, and thousands of children were reached with the gospel. The clubs continue to grow and children continue hear about Jesus.